Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
9/19/2014
The Senate late this week confirmed the Obama Administration’s choice of Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall to serve as the next Deputy Secretary of Energy. Sherwood-Randall last served as Special Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control. Among her previous positions, she served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council from 2009 to 2013; and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia from 1994 to 1996. At the Department of Energy, she will replace Dan Poneman, who is stepping down as DOE’s No. 2 official after serving in the position for five years.
Sherwood-Randall, largely seen as an uncontroversial choice, breezed through her Senate confirmation process, with a full vote occurring on her nomination only a week after she was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Other DOE nominees, however, have not been as lucky, with several still awaiting action by the full Senate, including, Under Secretary for Science nominee Franklin Orr, Chief Financial Officer nominee Joseph Hezir, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy nominee Ellen Williams and Director of the Office of Science nominee Marc Kastner.
In addition, the White House’s choice as the next head of DOE’s cleanup program—Monica Regalbuto—has also hit a roadblock in the Senate process. While Regalbuto has been reported out of committee, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso (R) has placed a hold on her nomination over concerns related to DOE’s uranium transfer policies and their potential impact on the domestic uranium industry. Unless lifted, the hold would prevent the full Senate from easily approving Regalbuto’s nomination by unanimous consent, and instead increase the time needed to move forward.
